Automatic meter



POINTER SHOWS $41114 Ill- III 8 C. A. TOCE ET AL AUTOMATIC METER Filed Fb. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 1, 1944. c. A. TocE ET AL AUTOMATIC METER Filed Feb, 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HINUTSB REMAINING E F. FBFPOUJSAPP afim QM 'Feb. 1, 1944. c. A, TOCE ET A 2,340,442

AUTOMATIC METER Filed Feb. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 LEM! 1 -1: IIJI-Y Patented Feb. 1, 1944 AUTOMATIC METER Charles A. Toce and Robert F. Brouasard, Houston, Tex, assign ore, by direct and meme assignments, to Vehicular Parking, Lhl, Newark, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application February 9, 1940, Serial No. 318,011

Claims. (01. 161-15) This invention relates to a meter for measuring the time interval elapsing from the initiated actuation by a coin or suitable token and more particularly relates to a device of this type which is completely automatic in operation upon the deposit of a proper coin or token.

I The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described in which it is necessary only to deposit a coin or token to establish operation thereof.

Another object is to provide a device in which the time interval indicator is constantly urged toward a starting position and is permitted to move to the starting or initial position upon the deposit of the coin or token.

Still another object is to provide a device of the class described in which the timing mechanism moves a time interval indicator over a dial from an initial or zero position after operation of the mechanism is initiated.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which may be adjusted to operate for any desired time interval upon the insertion of a coin or token.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described in which the operation of the timing mechanism is'terminated after a, predetermined time interval has elapsed.

A more specific object is to provide a timing device in which the time indicator is itseli connected and is returned to an initial indicating position upon the deposit of a coin.

The foregoing are primary objects and, to= gether with other objects, will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the drawings in which:

1 Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the invention with the housing front and coin receiving unit removed, the base of the housing being shown in vertical section; I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from the right of Fig. l, the housing being shown in section, the working mechanism in elevation, and the coin receiving unit in position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the operating mechanism of the device, a portion of the front face of the coin receiving unit being cut away to more clearly disclose operating details;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view taken from the left in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation similar-to that shown in Fig. 3;

Fig.6 is a detail including the actuating mechanism whereby a signal of elapsed time is displayed.

Fig. 7 is a detail similar to that. shown in Fig. 6 but illustrating the relative position of parts before the signaling mechanism has been actuated;

Fig. 8 is a plan view in section on line 8-8 of Fi 1;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 5 but illustrating the manner of using an electric timing mechanism and switching means therefor;

Fig. 10 is a partial elevational view taken from the left in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is asectional view taken on line in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line l2--i2 in Fig. 9.

In the drawings the reference character i indicates a suitable box like housing having an upper chamber 2 within which the meter mechanism I downwardly extending tubular portion by means of which the mechanism may be secured to a suitable support such as a tubular pillar or post as is well known in the art.

The meter mechanism 3 comprises a base or mounting plate i0 which is attached to cars ii within the housing and it is on this plate that the principal elements of the meter mechanism are mounted. These elements include generally a timing mechanism it. which drives the main shaft i3 which, in turn, drives a time indicating mechanism thru a gear wheel E5 on the front side of the plate iii. The time indicating mechanism includes a disc it and associated elements as will be more fully described. This mechanism is set in operation by the deposit of a, proper coin or token thru the slot 20 in the housing and thence into a coin receiving unit 2 i,

As best shown in Fig. 5 the timing mechanism i2 is secured to the rear of the plate l0 and comprises spaced frame members 22 and 23 in which are mounted upper and lower shafts 24 and 25 provided with winding ratchets 26. As is well known in the art'the opposite ends of a spiralspring are attached respectively to the shafts and the interior of spring barrels 21 and 28 which are provided with toothed portions 29 engaging a pinion 30 on the drive shaft [3. By means of this construction the energy delivered by both of the springs within the spring barrels 21 and 28 is instrumental in driving the remainder of the timing mechanism and the driven meter elements hereinafter more fully described.

The timing mechanism, as already indicated. also includes the gear wheel 3| which is fixed upon the shaft I3 and which is operatively connected thru a gear train 32 terminating in an escapement which cooperates with a balance wheel 33 whereupon timed operation of the mechanism is effected.

n the side of the plate l0 opposite the timing mechanism I2 just described is the gear wheel I8 fixed upon the shaft I3. This gear wheel is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 84 (Fig. 1) and drives intermeshing gear 35 and pinion 31 integral therewith, such gear and pinion being on shaft 86 mounted in the plate I0 and a bracket 38 secured thereto by means of the screws 39. The pinion 31 meshes with composite gear 40 which includes a pinion 4| mounted on shaft 42 in a yoke 43 which is swingably mounted upon the shaft 36. The pinion 4| meshes with complementary teeth on the periphe y of a disc I4 of the time indicating mechanism.

The angular position of the yoke 43 upon the 'shaft 38 is determined by a latch member 8| through which the shaft 42 passes. such latch member be ng slotted at 52 to slidably receive a post 53 which assures rectilinear movement of this member and also determines its limit of movement. This latch member and the associated yoke and gears are normally urged to the right by means of a bell crank lever 80 pivoted upon a pin 6| and havin a tension s ring 82 which tends to move the lower end of the arm 63 to the ri ht against roller 64 mounted on the latch member A roller 85 is mounted on the end of the other arm of the bell crank lever 60 and engages the periphery of the disc I4. It is to be noted that the yoke 43 extends upwardly and to the left as shown in Fig. l and henc'e tends to move to the left by the force of gravity acting thereon. The spring 82 is sufliciently weak that the force thereof is exceeded by the force of gravity tending to move the yoke 43 and the associated latch member 5| against the effort exerted by the spring. It is believed apparent that by means of this construction the latch member 5| when released for movement I scribed can move toward the left under ravity and permit disengagement of the pinion 4| with the teeth on the periphery of the disc I4 only 82 is overcome as Normally the latch member 8| is latched in po-- sition by means of the pawl arm 10 having a pro- .iection to engage within the notch 1| in the latch member. This pawl arm is one of the arms of the bell crank lever generally designated as 12 pivotally mounted upon a post 13 and constantly urged to rotate in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 14 attached to the cylindrical surface 15 of the bell crank lever about the axis of movement thereof. The other arm 16 of the bell crank lever 12 extends diagonally downwardly and terminates in a pin 11 which extends at right angles therefrom and enters a slot 18 in the coin passage of the coin receiving unit 2|.

5 served.

An important feature of the construction re- I ear 92 which is engageable by A pair of spaced interconnected flags 86 are pivotally mounted upon a pivot post 81 and have circular enlargements 88 at their outer ends. A portion of the weight of these flags is counterbalanced by means of a spring 89 attached to the periphery of a tubular member 90 (Fig. 4) which interconnects the flags. The enlargements 88 are preferably green in color and serve, when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to cover a red signal 9| (Fig. 6) on the scales 8| and 82.

One of the flags 88 has an inwardly projecting a pin 93 on the disc I4 as the disc rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1. to return the flags to their initial or starting position. When the flags 88 are lifted to their uppermost position, a rod extending therebetween is engaged by a notch in a pivoted arm 95 which tends to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by the tension of a spring 96 of which the opposite end is attached to a fixed pin 91' to which the spring 89 is also attached. The disc I4 is provided with a slot I00 in which a post IN is adjustably secured and which projects rearwardly from the disc.

As the disc rotates in a counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow I02, when the device is in operation, this post engages the inner end of the arm 95 whereby the outer end is lifted and the flags 88 are released to fall by gravity and expose the colored discs 9| on the scales 8| and B2.

Adjustment in the position of the pin IOI determines the time interval before which the flag assembly will be actuated thereby. In order that such time interval will coincide with the time in dicated by the pointers 80, the position of these pointers may be changed accordingly by securing the pointers in the proper openings in the disc I4, such openings being identified by the numerals |050 which indicate the timing interval for the respective settings.

As already indicated the disc I4 is driven as indicated by the arrow I02 by the timing mechanism I2. Such rotation of the disc I02 elongates a spring I05 which extends between an anchor pin I06 on the plate I0 and a screw I01 on the periphery of the circular segment I08 on the shaft I09 to which the disc I4 is attached, (Fig. 5). There is therefore a constant tendency for the disc I4 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction when viewed as in Fig. 1 until a limit of movement is reached as determined by the engagement of the flag 86.

The coin receiving unit 2| is mounted on pillars which extend forwardly from the plate I0 and is of relatively conventional construction. It comprises a plate 0 provided with a head III hav ing a coin receiving slot into which the coin passes from the opening 20 in the housing I. internal passage in the head I is so contoured that the inserted coin moves under gravity into a passage I I2 (Fig. 3) where the coin II4, of sufficient diameter to strike the pin |04, moves upon a tiltable arm II3 provided with a counterbalance I I3 and causes tilting of the am so that the coin will follow the path indicated by the arrow II5.

It may be assumed that a previously deposited coin H6 is held in view in front of the window projection 93 with the ear 92 on III in the housing I by a'proiectlon I22 on the lever I20. This lever is pivoted at I2I on the rear of the plate I I and has an upper arm which extends to the forward face of the coin receiving unit 2I where such arm projects diagonally downward thru an opening I26 and into the path of the coin II 4. During the passage of the coin III, the arm I20 is moved to withdraw the projection I22 and to release thecoin 6. During its descent the coin I I4 engages pin I1 and moves the arm I6 to the right to initiate operation of the device as will be more fully described. During such movement of the coin the projection I22 will return to its original position and the coin II will thereafter assume the position of the coin H6 shown in Fig. 3 and will remain in such position during the succeeding period of operation of the device.

The coin receiving unit 2I is also designed to effect operation of the meter when a predetermined number of smaller coins are deposited. For example, the meter may be operated by a nickel H4 or by five pennies which are of such diameter and weight that they follow the path indicated by the arrow H and enter passage I23 where four such coins accumulate. The fifth coin will, however move into the passage past the" end of the arm I and engage the pin II to bring about operation of the device in the manner just described when using the coin IN.

The end I25 of an arm I26 projects thru an opening I27 in the plate H0 and supports the lowermost of the coins in the passage I23 closely adjacent the window III. The opposite end of the arm I26 is. attached to a rod I2I pivoted in ears I 20 on the rear of the plate I I0. Another arm I 26 extends outwardly from the rod I21 and is adapted to be engaged by the head of a screw I30 fixed in the disc It. Such engagement is efiective to rock the rod I21 and to release the coins or tokens in the passage I23 whereby such coins are permitted to fall by gravity into the chamber I when the device is set in operation by the deposit of a coin I I0 'or a sufficient number of coins or tokens that one moves into the passage to strike pin ll on the bell crank lever I6.

For further constructional features attention is now directed to the manner of operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. For the sake of illustration it will be assumed that the device has been in use and that the pointers 80 have reached or passed beyond the zero point on the scales 8| and B2. The flags 86 have therefore been tripped by the engagement of the lug IOI with the inner end of the arm 95 and the elements of the device have assumed the relative positions shown in Fig. 6. The preceding coin H6 is then retained in the position shown in Fi 3.

If acoin I I I or a proper number of smaller coins are deposited in the slot 20 of the housing such coin or coins will cause the arm I6 to move as indicated by the arrow I6 so that the arm I0 will be released from the notch 'II in the latch member 5|.

During the previous operation the roller 65 passed over the elevated peripheral portion 66 of the arm 63. Hence the latch member 6| is held only by the engagement of the arm I0 therewith when the assumed successive operation is im- "tiated.

viewed in Fig. 1 under the influence of the spring I05 attached to the rear end of the shaft I09.

During such movement the lug 93 engages ear 92 on the flag assembly to lift the flags to a position to obscure the red discs 9| on the scales 8i and 82.

Another lug I 3| including a screw which passes through a slot in the disc I 4 whereby the lug is secured in a desired position, and engagesthe inner end of the pawl 61 and releases the arm 63 of the bell crank lever 60 whereupon the spring 62 becomes effective to move the latch member 5i and reconnect the timing mechanism I2 to the disc I4 of the time interval indicator. Thereafter the mechanism is operated by the energy from the timing mechanism I2 to cause the pointers 80 to move across the scales BI and 62 and indicate the interval of time remaining until it .is necessary to deposit a succeeding coin thru the slot 20.

Attention is directed to the fact that as the time interval indicator returns to starting position as just described the screw head I30 engages the end of the arm I29 whereby the lower arm I 26 on the rod I21 is caused to rock and withdraw the projection I25 from within the opening I2'I so that the coins retained within the passage E23 are permitted'to move under gravity into the coin receiving chamber 7! together with the coin retained by the projection I22.

When the pointers t0 reach the overtime limit a pin I32 on the disc it engages the upper end of a lever I33 so that such lever is moved against the tension of spring I30 and engages the gear wheel I5 to stop the timing mechanism until operation of the meter is again initiated.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive wherein the timing mechanism I2 is replaced by an electrically actuated timing mechanism indicated at It This construction comprises a stator I within which a rotor I5I is positioned upon a shaft I52. This shaft is'provided with a pinion I53 on the end thereof which drives a gear train It? to rotate the drive shaft I3 in the manner already described. Electrical energy is supplied to the mechanism by means of the conductors I55 leading to the terminal board I56 thru which a connection is made in series thru a mercury switch I51 to the windings of the stator I50. Connection is also made from the conductors I55 to a lamp I60 provided within the meter housing so that the illumination therefrom will make the dials BI and 82 visible at all times.

The mercury switch I51 is of a conventional construction in which a small armature I62 is attracted by a magnet I63 against the force exerted by a small spiral spring I64 to keep the circuit closed. One of the energized conductors is connected to the spring I64 and the armature I62 carries a contact extension I6I which contacts mercury in the lower end of a switch tube when the armature is held in the position shown in Fig. 9. The magnet I63 is mounted upon a bar I65 slidably mounted upon the plate to which the unit I2 is attached. This bar is constantly urged by means of a spring toward a position whereby the armature I62 is attracted to the position shown and the switch is closed.

As clearly shown in Fig. 12 one end of the bar I65 projects rearwardly and is adapted to be engaged by a screw I in the disc M, such engagement taking place as the pointer 80 reaches the limit of travel. Driving movement thus effected moves the magnet I63 to the left, Figs. 9 and 12, so that the magnetic influence upon the armature I62 is decreased and the spring I 64 moves the armature to the right as appearing in Fig. 9, so that the conductor IBI moves from engagement with the mercury to open the circuit and stop the timing mechanism I2. It is believed apparent that, by means of this construction, the timing mechanism will be deenergized as soon as the time interval has elapsed and the device will thereafter remain inactive until the subsequent deposit of a proper coin or token.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a timing mechanism, a time interval indicator including a disc to be rotated, means normally urging said disc towards an initial position, a releasable gear connection between said timing mechanism and said disc, said connection including a gear movable under gravity from driving engagement with the time interval indicator and latch means normally holding the gear against gravity so that the time interval indicator is driven by the tim ing mechanism, coin operated means for releasing said latch means whereby said disc is rotated by said first mentioned means, and means operable by the rotation of said disc for reestablishing said gear connection.

2. In a device of the class described, a drive wheel operated at a timed rate, an indicator disc having a segment of driving teeth thereon, a gear operatively connected to said drive wheel and movable toward and from said driving teeth, latch means normally holding said gear with its teeth in engagement with the driving teeth whereby the disc is driven at a timed rate, means for releasing said latch means so that said disc is returnable to an initial indicating position. and means operable by the rotation of said disc to such position for reengaging the gear and teeth 3. In a device of the class described, a timing mechanism, a time interval indicating means including a disc to be rotated by the timing mechanism, said disc having a segment of driving teeth thereon, a gear wheel operably connected to said timing mechanism and mounted to move under gravity from engagement with said driving teeth, latch means normally holding the gear wheel in driving engagement with the driving teeth, coin operated means adapted to release said latch means whereby saidgear moves under gravity from driving engagement with the disc, 9. spring adapted to rotate said disc in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation by the timing mechanism, means operable by the rotation of the disc for reengaging the gear and teeth when the disc rotates to apredetermined position under the influence of said spring, and additional means operable after rotation of the disc during a predetermined time interval for terminating the operation of the timing mechanism.

4. In a device of the class described, a timing mechanism, a time interval indicator including a disc having a segment of driving teeth thereon, a gear operatively connected to said timing mechanism and movable under gravity from engagement with the driving teeth on the disc, latch means holding said gear in engagement with said segment of driving teeth when the device is in operation, means operable by a coin for actuating said holding means for releasing said latch to permit said gear to move from engagement with said disc, and means operable by movement of the disc to initial position for reengaging the gear and teeth whereby the indicator thereafter indicates elapsed time after the coin is deposited.

5. In a device of the class described, a time mechanism, a time interval indicator including a disc having a segment of driving teeth thereon, means urging said indicator to an initial position, a gear operatively connected to said timing mechanism and movable under gravity from engagement with the driving teeth on the disc, latch means normally holding said gear in engagement with said segment of driving teeth when the device is in operation, means operable by a coin for actuating said holding means for releasing said latch to permit said gear to move from engagement with said disc whereby said first mentioned means may move the indicator to an initial position, latch means operable by movement of the disc to initial position for reengaging the gear and teeth whereby the indicator is driven and thereafter indicates elapsed time after the coil is deposited, and means operable by said disc to stop the timing mechanism after a predetermined time interval has elapsed.

CHARLES A. TOCE. ROBERT F. BROUSSARD. 

